What's On Your Mind? Wisk, Cardmember Services, Lillian Vernon

Cleaning products are often reformulated, but mostly for marketing purposes. The products really don't change all that much, or at least not this much.

“I have been using the new Wisk in the red bottle since it came out,” Jamie, of Cincinnati, Ohio told ConsumerAffairs.com. “The last bottle I bought, the detergent looks like water. It is clear and runny. Is this normal? It has no scent either and I am concerned I am not getting my clothes cleaned.”

We haven't received any similar reports about Wisk so it's likely Jamie purchased a bottle from a bad batch. She could return it to the store where she bought it and might get her money back. Or she could hang onto the questionable bottle and mail a polite note to:

Director of Customer Service

Sun Products Corporate Office

60 Danbury Road

Wilton, CT 06897

If it is a mistake, companies like to be made aware of it and may ask her to send the suspect bottle for inspection.  It's not a good idea to send it without getting instructions from the company, as mailrooms are hesitant to deal with packages containing unknown materials.

Companies have even been known to send a helpful consumer a coupon for a free bottle or two.

Scam Season

Besides being allergy season, it also seems to be scam season. We're not sure which is worse. Diane of Laguna Niguel, Calif., tells us she received a call from a man with a foreign accent, claiming to be a representative of the U.S. Government Grants Department. Of course, there is no such thing.

“He stated I was one of 1500 chosen by the government to receive a $7000 grant,” Diane said. “I was chosen because I pay my taxes and I pay my bills on time and have not requested any funds or aid from the Government.”

The scammer told Diane she could only use the money to pay off debts or remodel a home and promised the money would be wired to her bank account within 45 minutes.

“I told him I wanted the money deposited into my checking account and I gave him my routing number, but never gave him my account number,” she said. “I wanted to see if he'd ask for it, but didn't, so I didn't supply it. He did ask me my date of birth and also told me what my home address was, I just confirmed it. He had information on me, where he obtained it from I do not know.”

Diane gave the scammer way too much information and too much time on the phone. The fact that he had personal information about her is also troubling, since it suggests she was not selected at random. Diane should report the incident to her local police department. The lesson here is don't talk to anyone on the phone who you even suspect is scamming.

Hold my calls, please

Mary, of Stillwater, Okla., says the peace and quiet around her house in the evenings is interrupted periodically by telemarketing calls from Cardmember Services.

“It is an automated call and you are instructed to push a certain number to speak to a representative or a different number to be removed from their phone list, Mary said. “They say they are with Cardmember Services and are offering a chance to lower the interest rate on your credit cards.”

The first few time, Mary said she pushed the number to be removed from the list, but the calls kept coming. She says talking with a customer service rep does not good either.

“These calls, like all unsolicited telemarketing calls, are harassing and inconvenient,” Mary said. “In these difficult economic times they are preying upon vulnerable people in adverse circumstances.”

If she's not already, Mary should get on the nationwide DO NOT CALL list. If the calls persist, she should report them to Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt. http://www.oag.state.ok.us/

Buying it without knowing it

In recent years, several states and the Federal Trade Commission have cracked down on negative option marketing abuses, where consumers, without realizing it, make a purchase that gets charged to their credit cards.

Lillian Vernon has billed my American Express account $14.95 per month for a promotional service charge from 12/6/2009 to 4/1/2011,” Alicia, of Tinton Falls, N.J., told ConsumerAffairs.com. “I did not agree to this service because I rarely use Lillian Vernon and do not need that promotion.”

When she called to complain, Alicia said she was told that when she entered her email address during an online purchase, she accepted the promotion.

“I maintain that if and when given the opportunity, I clicked 'No Thanks.'” she said. “Why would I agree to paying $14.95 per month for a promotional service with a company I rarely use? I have not made any purchases from Lillian Vernon since 12/6/2009.”

It goes without saying that you should carefully inspect your credit card statement each month to make sure these stealth charges aren't on it. It sounds like Alicia did not give an “informed consent” to the purchase. Unless the promotion provided “clear and conspicuous” wording that Alicia was entering into a monthly purchase agreement, it sounds like she has a case. Her first step should be to speak with someone in New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow's office.